Temple's game at Hawaii called off
Temple college sports - basketball, football and more - covered by the Philadelphia Inquirer's Keith Pompey.
Temple's game at Hawaii called off
Keith Pompey, Inquirer Staff Writer
Temple’s proposed football game with Hawaii has been called off.
The Owls (3-6) were trying to schedule a football game with Warriors at Aloha Stadium on Dec. 7. However, the teams couldn’t agree on a deal and the game was called off Monday night.
“Temple University went above and beyond normal scheduling procedures in an effort to provide our student-athletes with the opportunity to play in a 12th football game this season," Temple athletic director Bil Bradshaw said Tuesday in a press release. “Unfortunately that will not be possible as our negotiations with the University of Hawaii have ended. We felt that we had an agreement in place with the University of Hawaii, but in the end its administration was unable to fulfill it due to unforeseen circumstances.”
After rejoining the Big East in March, Temple (3-6) was left with only 11 games on this season's schedule. The Owls have been attempting to schedule a 12th opponent that would make it easier to get the six wins needed to become bowl eligible for the fourth consecutive season.
Under Temple's current 11-game schedule, the Owls must win their remaining two games against Army and Syracuse just to reach five victories.
Temple was a football-only member of the Mid-American Conference during the previous five seasons.
That's a surprise.......since the Owls cannot become bowl eligible anyway, why incur the sizable expense to send the team to Hawaii just to lose another game.— Bigbirch- That is assuming they could win that game......a big assumption at this stage in their development— nuggett
- Probably would have lost to Hawaii anyway. Most teams that travel there for the first time are distracted by the trip and jet lag.— gillo79
- Temple should pretty much just head back to the MAC. As soon as somebody over there realizes they can't compete with real college football programs, everybody will be happier.— brio
- Temple is terrible they dont belong in the Big East. Why let them play in Hawaii.They don't deserve to play in a bowl game'. They will probably be kicked out of Big East again.— johnphilly
- Nobodys getting thrown of the Big East. Be real. Pitt, USF and Temple will all finish with the same record 4-7. USF and Pitt are on a downward spiral and have been. Tired of people hating on the Owls. This is a young team with better coaching. Its not going to happen over night.— OwlFootballDad
- Agreed OwlFootballDad. While the past 3 games have been disappointing, it's a young team and hopefully should improve. As far as staying in the MAC, don't be ridiculous. In head to head games between the top teams in each conference, I think the MAC actually has a winning record against the Big East (not sure though). I know Kent State beat Rutgers at Rutgers. The major difference is that you get a heck of a lot more money in the Big east than you do in the MAC, significantly better bowl tie-ins and the ability to retain a winning coach.— rsternb1
- TEmple has a great future in front of them. The young guys are still learning and with more experience and off season conditioning they will show how good they really are.— Clifton
- What a joke. Trying to buy their way into a bowl game. How much would that cost to fly a 3-6 team to Hawaii? This is a state school correct? Our taxpayers money could go to much better causes.— TK in Downingtown
- Temple will probably lose to Syracuse anyway and that would end their bowl drive. Still the trip to Hawaii would have been just like a bowl for the Temple players. It's a real shame that it's not going to happen...— Byron
- It's still technically possible for Temple to go to a bowl game, if they win vs. Army and Syracuse and get an exemption from the NCAA if there is a lack of bowl eligible teams. It's a longshot, but possible.— robbjl
- The game with Army will tell a lot. If Temple wins, 4 wins will be acceptable for this season, but not next season. If they lose to such a poor team (altho Army has been improving a lot) it will be indicative of a mysteriously downward direction and not a good sign for next season. And I agree that the Hawaii game would probably be futile, chancy at best for those six wins, expensive and if they lost would hurt confidence of the players. Just beat Army, ok?— joninohio
- How pathetic is it that they were still trying to schedule a cupcake game midway through the season for a better chance to become bowl eligible— bigpiece85
- The owls are heading backwards this season. While it would benefit the younger guys in the team to get in a few extra weeks of practice and reward the seniors with a nice swan song I'm done with this season. This year's team is brutal and I can't take anymore. Thank god hoops started.— owl87
- They HAD their bowl game already...when they played Villanova. :)— ocpizza
Pompey is a native Philadelphian and a University of Pittsburgh graduate. Follow him on Twitter @pompeysgridlock. Reach Keith at kpompey@phillynews.com.
